Swinging scaffold



Filed Aug. 1, 1946 JNVENTOR.

Feb.17,194s. RJ, LACKNER 2,435,969

SWINGINQ SCAFFOLD Filed Aug'. 41, 194e y 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ROZLO@ Lac/Yma- Patented Feb. 17, 1948 SWINGING SCAFFOLD Rolph J. Lackner, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to Emma H. Lackner, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application August 1, 1946, Serial No. 687,730

This invention relates to improvements in swingingscalfolds as disclosed in Patent No. 1,483,822 issued to me April 1, 1924.

Manufacture and use of the patented structure has taught the advlsability of structural 1 simplification, and also, as well as more important perhaps., safe-guard, in so far as possible, against carelessness and incomprehension involred on the part of workmen using the scatfol l The objects oi the present improvements are, therefore, to simplify the structure of the original device, to provide an arrangement wherein, even an untutored workman may not through carelessness or inadvertence. blunder into a mistake in the use of the scaffold which-may, through accidental breaking of the ropes at either one end or the other of the platform of the scaffold, cost him his life, wherein rope. clamps each embodying a single movable jaw will be provided in connection with the strands of ropes at each end of said platform, wherein an adjustable connecting rod will be provided between each end of the platform and the movable jaw of the adjacent clamp so that, in the event a strand of the rope at either end of the platform should break, the tilting throw of the platform necessary toV actuate themovable jaw of either clamp may be determined in advance at the time the scaffold is 'rst erected, wherein the upward movement of one end of the platform caused by the downward movement of the other end thereof will not open `the movable jaw at the hgh end of the platform,

8 Claims. (Cl. 304-49) and wherein the strands of the ropes will be par.

titioned at the clamps so as not to become entangled. e Y

Other and incidental objects will appear during the following description of the invention, and in the drawings:V Y i Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved scaffold.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the rope clamps.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the clamp, the strands of the coacting rope being shown in section.

Figure 4 is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section.

Figure 6 is a vertical section.

Figure 'I is a detail perspective view of one of the connecting rods employed, the sections of the rod being shown separated.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l ofthe drawings, I employ the usual platform le having rungs Il supporting a floor I2. Conventional stirrups I3 embrace the platform and are provided at their upper ends with eyes i4 as well as with the usual loops l5 which latter removably receive a guard rail I-B. Beams I1 project over the roof or other portion of the building against which the scaffold is erected, as will be well understood, and detachably connected therewith are upper pulley blocks I8 which receive ropes I9 trained about lower pulley blocks 2l, the usual hooks 2| of which latter are detachably engaged through the eyes I4 of the stirrups I3 for supf porting the platform I0 suspended. In practice, the free strand of each of the ropes I9 is given atie-knot about the adjacent hook 2l for securing the platform l0 at any given elevation, as will also be well understood.

Now taking up the present improvements in detail, it may be noted that the structure shown at the right and left of Figure 1 duplicates each other. For the sake of clarity, I will therefore, in describing the structure, refer to a single block 20 only, and associated parts.

A conventional block may be employed, in which event, I attach to the sheath thereof an opstanding lug 22, or the sheath and lug may, if so desired, be formed for the purposes of the present invention as an integral structure. Fixed to the lug 22 is a rope clamp, now to be described.

As perhaps best shown in Figure 2, the rope clamp includes a straight shank 23 suitably xed to the lug 22, or, if preferred, the shank may be formed as an integral continuation of the sheath of the pulley block. The shank 23 is offset near its upper end and provided with an overhanging yoke 24 having parallel arms 25. Extending lat'- erally from the shank at the offset thereof is `an integral fixed jaw 2B from which extend spaced fingers 21.

Pivoted upon the yoke 24 is a movable jaw 28 confronting the fixed jaw 26 to coact therewith. If so desired, the confronting faces of either or both jaws may be serrated to better grip the strands of a. rope extending therebetween. Formed on the jaw 28 midway between the ends thereof is a lateral arm 29,' and'rising from said arm are spaced lugs M3U fitting between the arms 25 of the yoke 24.

Extending forwardly and downwardly from between the lugs 30 of the arm 29 is a more or less L-shaped operating lever 3| provided at its free end with a lateral terminal 32, and extending through the free ends of the arms 25 of the yoke 24, through the lugs 30 of the arm 29, and through the inner end of the lever 3| is a removable pivot bolt 33, preferably provided with a wing nut'34 S0 that the bolt may be readily removed by hand.

Engaged through the free end of the arm 29 to coact with the lower edge of the lever 3I near its inner end is a set screw 35.

Preferably, the ends of the Jaw 28 are channeled, and detachably xed in the channels thereof are end lingers 36 preferably secured by clamp screws 3l. Thus, the lingers 21, which extend over the jaw 28, in conjunction with the fingers 365 and yoke 24 will partition; the space-be.` tween the jaws 26v and 2B so that, as seen in Fieures 3 and 5, the strands of the coacting rope I9 may not become entangled at the rope clamp.

Extending between the operating lever 3-I.` and the adjacent end of the platform I is a connecting rod. indicated as a whole at. 38, Preferaf'xlm. this rod is formed of two sections; 39' andi49 respectively, and while, casually, thel rod might. be:

considered as a mere reach rod still, in the present instance, the structural details thereof'render it distinctive.

The section 39 of thev rod- 38- is' formed at one end' withA a yoke 41|; whil'eat the other end of said section.v are provided ears 42. Formed inthe sectionlongitudinally'thereof arefspaced openings 43, The section '59. isY likewise provided with' spaced: openings 44, and at, oneendI of` said' section is a yoke 45; The openingsMare-of. thesame.- size as the openings 43 and. the.r twoy sections.- are assembled end.l toend lat'against, each other to re.- ceive a bolt 4B' entering through. matching openings. inthe sections and preferably provided-withawingf unt 4l soV that thesectionszmay; as will be atY once appreciated, be positions relativo tor each other and clamped together by the bolt 46 and nut 41 for adjusting the length of theA rod asa whole.` In such position-.of the section-s, the ears 42 will embracethee-sectionf 40,150. cooperate with the; bolt 413i and hold the sections in4 alignment. However, tlierpresences or the. ears 42- isnot impera-tive.

The yoke 4I of the. section. 39 of thefrod 38- is detachably.'l connected to; the: terminal 3.2, of the lever 3l by a looltAily and wingnut 4S.. Detachably fixed tothe adjacent end rung Il of the platform I0 is a: collar 50, and detachably connecting the yoke iiiv of the section- 40,01?v the rod; 3d with saidI collar is aibolt. l and. wing nut 52..

It is nowVA tobe notedthat theI bolts 46, 48, and 5I are all of the same size, as are. the openings which receive them. Consequently, since. conventional s-tirrups4 t3 vary in over-all height, both sections 39 and 49' may belused for-a long. stirrup while, for a shortsti-rrup; only one of thev sections may be employedl to extendbetween theA free end of the lever 3f-I and thecollar 50V.

Inl this connection, the importance of the. adjustment in the connection between the.- platform Il) and the lever 31|; should. be, noted. Aswill: be perceived; if one of the strandsY of the rope I9, say at the l'e-ft of Fig-ure l, should. break, the adjacent end of the platform lill-will move down andt act'. on themed-3,3m pul'l'theleyer 3l` downwardly., Thus, the; lever willv act-on the screw 35 to. rock the. mow able jaw 28 toward the; fixed. jaw 2.6i, with the re suit: that the strands of' the rope will be clamped between the jaws to check further downward movement of said end; oi the" platforms-o that the platform will be automatically prevented from swinging tovertical position. As` will. be seen, the-length of travel ofthe-mov.- abl'e jaw 2.8i under the .foregoingY conditions may, byvarying thelen-gth of the rod 313-,4 be roughly ad*- justed.y before the platforml is erected while, concunrently, the: screw 35lmay beturned` to obtainl a finer' adjustment. Thus; they throw of. said lever 4 and, consequently, the downward throw of said end of the platform necessary to clamp the rope strands between the jaws may be regulated and determined in advance.

To disassemble the structure, the rod 38 is detached when, if so desired, the sections 39 and 40 of the rod may be detached from each other. The lever 3I is then detached and turned end for end, when the terminal 32 thereof is secured' by the bolt '33' between the lugs- 39 of the arm 29. The lever will then hang substantially parallel to the associated jaw assembly and to the adjacent pulley block to afford compactness.

Referring now again to Figure 1 of the drawings, it willbe. at once appreciated in view of the foregoing. description that if one of the strands of either of the ropes I9 should break, the adjacent endl of'v the platform IIJ will be permitted to tilt downwardly only a predetermined distance so that the safety of workmen on the platform will be assured, Furthermore, as will be perceived. downward movement of oneendf of the platform I 9 with consequent upward. movementv of... the other. end thereof, willl resultv only in thev movemenig, atthehigh end of. the platformr of the adjacent lever 3I upwardly away from the set screw 35 of the rope clamp at the. high, end of. the. plat.- form, so that the normal positionof. the movable jaw 28' relative tov thexed. jaw 26 of said clamp will not be affected.

Having thus described myinventiom. what I claim is:

l. A safety device for swingingv scaffolds lncluding a fixed j aw andv a movable law disposed at opposite sides ofthe scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movableV law inde-x pendently thereof and' downwardly to operatively coact with said'movable jaw for rockingl the same toward the fixed jaw to. clamp said rope therebetween, means forsupportingsaid jaws from a pulley block of/l the scaffold, and a. connection between the free end of said lever and anl end. of the scaffold. platformv whereby dropping of said end of' the, platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws..

2. A safety device for swinging. scaifolds including. a 'xed jaw and a. movable disposed at opposite sides ofthe scaffold suspending rope. and normally free thereof,V a pivoted lever, movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof. anddownwardl'y to operatively coact with said, movable, jawfor rocking the same toward the fixed jaw to clamp said. ropel therebetween, means for supporting said jaws froma pulley block of. the, scaffold, anda connection of lineally adjustable sections between the free end of said lever and an end ofthe scalold, platform whereby dropping. of said end ofv the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw til-grip the, suspending ropebetween Vsaid jaws..

3. A safety device for swinging, scaflolds in,- cluding a fixed jaw and a, movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of4 the, scaffold, suspending rope and normally free thereof-,3, pivoted. lever movable upwardly awayl from. the movableljaw independently thereof. anddownwardly to operatively coact .with said movable jaw'for rocking the same toward the fixed jaw to clamp said rope, therebetween, means carried. by. the, movable jaw for engagement by said lever and adjustable for changing the normal: positionA of the-leverrelative to the movable jaw, means. for supporting said laws .from a pulley` block. ofy the sbaifolctl and. a

connection between the free end of said lever and an end of the scaffold platform whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws.

4. A safety device forl swinging scaifolds including a, fixed jaw and a movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of the scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a, pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof and downwardly to operatively coact with said movable jaw for rocking the same toward the xed jaw to clamp said rope therebetween, means for supporting said jaws from a pulley block of the scaifold, a single means pivotally connecting the movable jaw and said lever with said supporting means, and a connection between the free end of said lever and an end of the scaffold platform whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws.

5. A safety device for swinging scaffolds including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of the scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof and downwardly to operatively coact with said movable jaw for rocking the same toward the fixed jaw to clamp said rope therebetween, means for supporting said jaws from a form whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws, a bolt adjustably connecting said sections with each other, and ears carried by one of the sections to engage the other of said sections locking the sections in alignment.

7. A safety device for swinging scaffolds including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of the scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof and downwardly to operatively coact with said movable jaw for rocking the same toward the fixed jaw to clamp said rope therebetween, means for supporting said jaws from a pulley block of the scaffold and including a shank fixed to said block and having said fixed jaw thereon as well as being provided with a yoke, lugs on the movable jaw mating with said yoke and receiving the inner end of said lever therebetween, means extending through the yoke, said lugs and the lever pivotally connecting the movable jaw and said lever with said yoke, an arm extending from the movable jaw, a set screw engaged through said arm to abut the inner end pulley block of the scaffold and including a yoke,

a bolt pivotally connecting the movable jaw and said lever with said yoke, and a. connection between the free end of said lever and an end of the scaffold platform whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between the jaws.

6. A safety device cluding a xed jaw and a movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of the scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof and downwardly to operatively coact with said movable jaw for rocking the same toward the xed jaw to clamp said rope therebetween, means for supporting said jaws from a pulley block of thescaffold, companion rod seotions forming a connection between the free end of said lever and an end of the scaffolding plat- `for swinging scaffolds ini portion of said lever and adjustable for changing the normal position of said lever relative to the movable jaw, and a connection between the outer end of said lever and an end of the scaffold platform whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws.

8. A safety device for swinging scaffolds including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw disposed at opposite sides of the scaffold suspending rope and normally free thereof, a, pivoted lever movable upwardly away from the movable jaw independently thereof and downwardly to operatively coact with said movable jaw for rocking the same toward the fixed jaw to clamp said rope therebetween, means for supporting said jaws from a pulley block of the scaffold, a `connection between the free end of said lever and an end of the scaffold platform whereby dropping of said end of the platform will cause actuation of the movable jaw to grip the suspending rope between said jaws, and fingers carried by both jaws and disposed to partition the space therebetween separating the strands of said rope.

ROLPH J. LACKNER. 

